Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

Looks like there won't be a problem. WaPost:

"Striking dockworkers reached a tentative agreement with port operators on Thursday for a 62 percent wage increase and have extended their contract through Jan. 15 to bargain over remaining issues.”

Good deal, I guess. The head of that union said they were going for broke. Guess they changed their tune. 62% is light years better than what the UAW got.

 

[MJZ]

Framing nailer was a great purchase. $99 and worked well out of the box on an 8 x 8 wellhouse. Used it a bunch more since then building shelves, wood rack etc. Pneumatic stapler, various hoses. All good. I dont need to make a living with 'em so I took a chance. Paid off.

 

[California]

A framing nailer is one of those 'why didn't I buy this before' revelations! Recommended!

They make difficult projects easy. The sort where you need to hold something in place while nailing it up (shelf supports), or, you don't have room to swing a hammer.

Recent photo. Scabbing doublers on to these rotted stair stringers left no space to swing a hammer. The air nailer was a lifesaver. This an old Porter-Cable. I assume the current HF's don't weigh as much as this beast.

 

[MJZ]

So dang true. Makes it easier to get motivated to build shelves, wood rack. Chickem coop is next. $99 i should have spent years ago. Thanks, HF

 

[sd455dan]

Their 12" backhoe bucket for trenching. Decent. (Seriously)

Just don't apply 7 times the weight of their complete 9 HP towable backhoe that is actually for by trying to rip out a foot deep 6" diameter root in one curl with a TLB.

Works great for trench digging without large roots, made just over 300 feet before I decided to push it- and it did do a real nice job.

Welder and reinforcement time.

No anger, in fact I did laugh when I pulled the dipper stick up. @ $200 it was still a bargain and will have the other ~75 feet done tomorrow ( after some welding)

Oh and I owe LD1 or Mike? a "you told me so".

 

[5030]

Bottom line with HF is, they have mostly good tools and acessories but you have to use discretion when buying there because while the majority of their offerings are good, the minority of their offerings are basically one use and break junk.

Why I stick to Icon and Chief and their higher tier tools and stuff and trey to avoid the Pittsburg and Centec stuff because it is cheaper but it don't last either plus the higher tier stuff has a solid guarantee and I've returned stuff in the past for replacement and never had issue one.

I go to HF so much that all the folks at the local store know me by name.

 

[jyoutz]

Bottom line with HF is, they have mostly good tools and acessories but you have to use discretion when buying there because while the majority of their offerings are good, the minority of their offerings are basically one use and break junk.

Why I stick to Icon and Chief and their higher tier tools and stuff and trey to avoid the Pittsburg and Centec stuff because it is cheaper but it don't last either plus the higher tier stuff has a solid guarantee and I've returned stuff in the past for replacement and never had issue one.

I go to HF so much that all the folks at the local store know me by name.

Some of the basic Pittsburgh tools are ok: pliers, screwdrivers, and other simple things.

 

[sd455dan]

Some of the basic Pittsburgh tools are ok: pliers, screwdrivers, and other simple things.

I won't buy any of their vice grip copies, pliers, or cutters.

Finally have all Klein, Channel Lock, Vice Grip, Knipex, or old Crescent Diamalloy Gave away any of the HF ones that just don't cut it. I tried Icon cutters and was disappointed and returned them. More Klein solved that.


ps. For a real gamble I bought a "Temu" 2 stroke 32.7cc post driver for $187 Really surprised, starts easy and works great for steel fence posts. I bent some longer posts using the FEL Buckets but this goes slow enough initially to not cause a bend on 8 footers, did have to bring a metal folding chair to stand on to be high enough to place the pounder on top and it also works when using metal gates that you want the T posts below the top of the gate.

 

[jyoutz]

I won't buy any of their vice grip copies, pliers, or cutters.

Finally have all Klein, Channel Lock, Vice Grip, Knipex, or old Crescent Diamalloy Gave away any of the HF ones that just don't cut it. I tried Icon cutters and was disappointed and returned them. More Klein solved that.

I bought a set of the cheap Pittsburgh hand tools for the house garage. And my good tools as you describe are out in the shop.

 

[Gregster613]

Looks like there won't be a problem. WaPost:

"Striking dockworkers reached a tentative agreement with port operators on Thursday for a 62 percent wage increase and have extended their contract through Jan. 15 to bargain over remaining issues.”

Wow!! Unless they were getting paid "peanuts" (which I highly doubt) 62% is a Humongous raise!!